Minecraft Gear VR edition releasedTurning the virtual to reality

Mojang has teamed up with Samsung and Oculus to create the first ever virtual reality version of Minecraft.

The new iteration of the game offers fully immersive capabilities that launch the user from their bedroom, into sprawling villages, deep ravines and vast oceans.

“Minecraft: Gear VR Edition supports all the features of Pocket Edition, including Creative and Survival modes, skins, and multiplayer.” according to Oculus’ announcement.

Mojang posted on their website that “you can now play Minecraft on Gear VR-compatible Samsung phones – the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, Note5, S6 and S6 edge”.

Both companies mentioned two modes: Theater and immersive. Theatre mode allows the user to play the game on a virtual screen in a virtual room. Immersive mode places the user into the VR-Minecraft world.

In a game play video by Zueljin Gaming, two control settings were shown onscreen. The first controls labeled are “VR controls – Moderate” where “the cursor and jumping have been tuned for VR to improve the comfort during movement for most people”. The screen also displayed “Classic Controls – Intense” which has a “comfort level of intense for most people”.

Mods that allowed users to play Minecraft on the more advanced Oculus Rift have been around for quite some time. This mod, aptly named Minecrift has given users this ability since allowed users to do so since 2014.

The releases from Mojang and Oculus both mention the need for a separate Bluetooth controller. Oculus specifically mentions the Steel Series Stratus XL.

Now that an official version has been released, users can experience VR Minecraft with a smartphone, a $99 dollar headset, and a compatible controller. Minecraft: Gear VR Edition is available now through the Oculus Store for $6.99.

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Andrew Higgins

Andrew spends most of his time knitting and fearing that every decision he makes right now can have lasting impacts on his future.. He is currently enrolled at Millersville University studying Public Relations.